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BS7958 CCTV Management

This Standard addresses the management & operations of a Monitoring Centre that monitors real time CCTV Scheme images (typically town centre CCTV schemes)

The Standard addresses the ergonomics of the control room and data protection compliance which is not really addressed within BS5979. This Standard is now additionally called up in the newly issued Home Office Code of Practice for Surveillance Cameras primarily aimed at councils and the police at this time.

BS 7958 gives recommendations for the operation and management of Closed circuit television (CCTV) within a controlled environment. It applies where data that might be offered as evidence is received, stored, reviewed or analysed. It also applies to the monitoring of traffic regulations.

BS 7958 applies to CCTV schemes used in public places such as the following:
a) Areas where the public are encouraged to enter or have a right to visit, such as town centres, shopping malls, public transport, health establishments, etc.
b) Schemes that overlook a public place, such as traffic monitoring schemes
c) Private schemes where a camera view includes a partial view of a public place.

BS 7958 also provides good practice for all other CCTV schemes. For control rooms whose operation falls within the scope of BS 7499 or BS 5979, all of the security requirements, both physical and procedural, of the relevant British Standard remain applicable.

CCTV schemes that process data about a known person are obliged to conform to certain legislation, most importantly the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA), the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA) and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. BS 7958 is designed to supplement that legislation in a model code that ensures fairness, purpose and responsibility. Attention is drawn to the Private Security Industry Act 2001, which contains provisions for regulating the private security industry. A person falling within the definition of providing security industry services under the Private Security Industry Act 2001 is required to be licensed in accordance with that Act.

BS 7958 provides recommendations on best practice to assist users in obtaining reliable information that can be used as evidence. Whilst some schemes might not need to meet the DPA criteria, compliance with the code of practice is strongly recommended, particularly where schemes include an element of observation of the public.